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Lowell student opening 'Eyes' of society

By Pete McQuaid, pmcquaid@lowellsun.com

Updated:
02/08/2013 09:26:17 AM EST

Lowell High School graduate and Fitchburg State University film student Connor Crosby is collaborating with LHS teacher Deb Fowler on an anti-bullying documentary titled Through Gay Eyes. Courtesy photo

LOWELL -- Mill-City native Connor Crosby has a documentary project to which anyone can contribute -- but time is of the essence.

Crosby, a graduate of Lowell High School who attends Fitchburg State University, has a campaign on Kickstarter.com to finance the production of a documentary called Through Gay Eyes.

The film will feature interviews with members of the LGBT community both from Lowell High and throughout the world who will talk about their experiences and about society's tepid acceptance of homosexuality.

"The goal with Through Gay Eyes is to allow members of the lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender community to tell their story," said Crosby, who's directing the film with help from Lowell High English Language Learners teacher Deb Fowler. "While it does seem like times are getting much better, we're going to learn from interviews that times are very tough."

Crosby and Fowler set a fundraising goal on Kickstarter of $5,030, which would be used for film equipment and for setting up interviews across the country. The campaign has raised $2,979 as of Wednesday, but the deadline is Sunday. Per Kickstarter rules, if a campaign doesn't hit its goal, all the previously pledged money goes back to the donors.

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"My sense is that the bulk of the donations usually come in the last few days (of the campaign)," said Fowler. "I think people try to see how much more is needed before they decide to donate."

Crosby worked with Fowler his junior year at Lowell High on another documentary, "Hard Truth, Levity and Hope," which spotlighted six of Lowell High's refugee students. She wanted to work with Crosby again because of his talent and because she is a member of the gay community that Crosby wants to focus his film on.

"Connor is a real professional," said Fowler. "He has this ability to notice what most disregard or dismiss as the status quo. He realizes secrets and repression still exist, and that our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are equal under the law."

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